Download Presentation

Balanced Literacy

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation

Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author.While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server.

Presentation Transcript

1. Balanced Literacy in the Middle School

3. Whole Language Instruction Focus on making meaning in reading and expressing meaning in writing
Focus on motivational aspects of literacy, emphasizing the love of books and level-appropriate student materials
Reduced emphasis on other skills, besides phonics, that are usually not linked directly to developing meaning, such as grammar, spelling, capitalization and punctuation.
Reading is a natural process, much like learning to speak. Children exposed to a great deal of authentic, connected text will become literate without much explicit instruction in the rules and conventions of printed text
Learners who see the big picture

5. Components of the Reading Portion Reading aloud - often ignored at the middle school level
Shared reading
Guided reading
Mini-lessons related to reading skills or strategies with small groups
Reading workshop which centers around silent sustained reading of self-selected materials

6. Reading Elements Clarified Reading Aloud Ranging from 10-20 minutes per day. Material is above the grade level of the students. Students can hear advanced syntax and vocabulary. Teacher think aloud, modeling voice and fluency in writing, is part of reading aloud.
Shared Reading The students and the teacher read text aloud together. At the middle school level this should occur 2-3 times weekly. All students need a copy of the text or need to be able to read an enlarged version of the text. It promotes sentence fluency. Choral reading, readers' theater, oral interpretation, chants and songs are examples of shared reading.
Guided Reading Small group instruction with four to eight students grouped according to their instructional reading level, lasting for 20-45 minutes. The groups change frequently based on student growth. The teacher introduces the text, activating students' prior knowledge. The students read the text. Teacher modeled, shared, partner, silent, popcorn reading strategies may be used. Inquiry studies, writing activities, graphic organizers often accompany guided reading lessons

7. Reading, cont. Literature Circles A small group of students (4-8) select a book (fiction/nonfiction) to read and share through discussion. Each student is assigned a literature circle jobs or role. The teacher promotes a higher order thinking that builds context, interpreting, synthesizing and evaluating skills through questioning and prompting collaborative discussion.
Readers' Workshop Readers' Workshop is a philosophy and a classroom structure. Readers' Workshop should be practiced at least weekly. A Readers' Workshop has four components: Time, Ownership, Sharing and Community . Students must have consistent time, must be able to select some of their own work and be committed to it, must share aloud using the curricular standards of speaking and listening, and must feel a part of a safe classroom environment. Readers' Workshop begins with a minilesson where the teacher models what effective readers do when they read .Then students go into a USSR structure, practicing the lesson individually and independently.

8. Reading, cont. SSR
Sustained Silent Reading is a daily scheduled block of time (10-30 minutes) when students read self-selected material. A proficient reader reads about 45-60 minutes daily and 2 million words yearly.
Homework SSR extends into homework by assigning 15 - 45 minutes of accountable reading as regular homework. Students who read at home are more successful in spelling, grammar, vocabulary growth, reading fluency and content knowledge.

10. Components of the Writing Portion Shared writing where the teacher and students work together to compose a piece
Interactive writing
Guided writing
Independent writing.
Allows students choice in format and theme for independent writing

11. Writing Elements Clarified Interactive Writing or Guided Writing The teacher models the minilesson or focus skill. Mini lessons might include the Six Traits of Writing (idea, organization, voice, sentence fluency, word choice and conventions) and are practiced during interactive writing. Interactive writing is teacher directed with a focus lesson..
Writers' Workshop The Writers' Workshop allows students to use the writing process- drafting, revising, editing -which matches the Six Traits of Writing. The teacher models a short lesson showing students what effective writers do when they write . The teacher offers a prompt/idea. Students go into a SSW structure, practicing the lesson individually and independently. Student work is collected in a portfolio. A Writers' Workshop classroom has a publishing center that contains appropriate tools and supplies- paper, card stock, word processors. Students are given a variety of avenues to publish their work. The writer himself edits, seeks peer editing, and finally the teacher edits, before the student creates the final draft.
SSW Sustained Silent Writing (or independent writing) is a daily opportunity to practice the skills introduced in minilessons ,. To allow students more ownership and commitment, students choose their own topics and audiences within teacher-assigned modes. The writing process is practiced during SSW with students writing rough drafts, editing and publishing some pieces.

12. Writing, cont. Modeled Writing Teachers demonstrate strategies as proficient adult writers. Teachers model the writing process to add, revise, ask questions, clarify, and edit.. Shared Writing Shared Writing provides an opportunity for all students to successfully participate in the writing process. The students and teachers share the task of writing. The writing comes from the students' thoughts and ideas. Teachers identify and discuss with students the conventions, structures, and language features of written text. This allows a student to access writing beyond what he/she may be able to do independently while providing models of different genres. Guided Writing After determining through observation of student behavior and work, the teacher works with a group or an individual student on appropriate effective writing strategies. These strategies and skills are demonstrated within authentic writing tasks that allow students to develop independence and to increase their skills in self-monitoring or writing.